Portable projection screen



Oct. 12, 1965 3,211,210

R. E. JACOBSON PORTABLE PROJECTION SCREEN Filed Dec. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Oct. 12, 1965 R. E. JACOBSON PORTABLE PROJECTION SCREEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20 1963 United States Patent 3,211,210 PORTABLE PROJEQTION SCREEN Robert E. Jacobson, Elk Grove Village, 111., assignor to Radiant Manufacturing Corporation, Morton Grove, 111., a corporation of Illinois Fiied Dec. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 332,138 Claims. (Cl. 160-24) This invention has to do with portable projection screens of the types which have a vertical hollow supporting post, an elongated screen case having a roller mounted flexible screen therein and pivotally mounted on the supporting post for swinging movement between a vertical position for transportation and storage purposes and a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes, and an extension rod slidably mounted in the supporting post and movable between a raised position for supporting the flexible screen in picture exhibiting position and a lowered position for locking the screen case in its vertical position. A pair of brackets are carried by the supporting post, a plurality of legs are pivotally connected to one of the brackets, and a plurality of links are pivotally connected to the other of said brackets and to the legs to form a collapsible stand for the supporting post, the legs being swingable between a normally extended position (to which they are urged by springs or gravity or both) for engaging the floor and supporting the supporting post in its vertical position for picture exhibiting purposes and a collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes.

Specifically, in accordance with this invention and as an object of this invention, a plunger is slidably mounted in the supporting post, a plurality of connecting links are pivotally connected to the plunger and the plurality of leg links, and a spring is arranged in the supporting post between the plunger and the extension rod. The spring is inactive when the extension rod is raised from its lowered position to allow extension of the legs to their normally extended position, and when the extension rod is moved to its lowered position to lock the screen case in its vertical position, the spring is stressed to cause the plunger to resiliently urge the connecting links and resiliently bias the normally extended legs to their collapsed position for causing automatic collapsing of the legs when lifted from the floor and for maintaining the legs in their collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes until the extension rod is raised from its lowered position. Also, a spring, which is relatively weak with respect to the aforementioned spring which is relatively strong, may be utilized for urging the plunger toward the extension rod when the aforementioned relatively strong spring is not stressed by the extension rod, the relatively strong spring overcoming the force of the relatively weak spring when the relatively strong spring is stressed by the extension rod.

Preferably, both of the brackets, to which the legs and leg links are pivotally connected, are rigidly secured to the supporting bracket and the pivotal connect-ions between the leg links and legs are slot and pin connections so as to provide minimal length of the projection screen when in collapsed condition for transportation and storage purposes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the portable projection screen of this invention raised from the floor and with the screen case locked and the legs in collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 with the legs extended and resting on the floor and with the screen case released so that it may be swung to a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes. I

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the legs in extended position and resting on the floor but with the screen case locked in vertical position.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal view taken substantially along the line l4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a further form of the portable projection screen of this invention illustrating the screen case locked in its vertical position and the legs in collapsed position as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the projection screen similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the screen case released and the legs in extended position as in FIG. 2.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 4 the portable projection screen of this invention is generally designated at 10. It includes a normally vertically arranged hollow supporting post 11 upon which is slidably mounted a handle member 12. The handle member 12 is provided with a double-acting nipping lever 13 which may be of the kind disclosed in Nicholas Patent No. 2,812,808. When the nipping lever 13 is depressed, the handle member 12 may be adjustably positioned along the supporting post 1 1 and when the nipping lever 13 is released, the handle member 12 is locked in position on the supporting post 11 against movement in either direction. The handle member 12 pivotally carries a bracket 14 which in turn is secured to a screen case 15', the screen case 15 being swingable to a vertical position for transportation and storage purposes and being swingable to a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes. The screen case 15 is provided with end-caps 16 and a roller mounted flexible screen is carried within the screen case '15. The free end of the flexible screen is provided with a suspension slat 17 having a bail 18 for withdrawing the flexible screen from the case when the screen case is in its horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes.

Slidably mounted in the hollow supporting post 11 is an extension rod 19 having on its upper end a hook memher 211 which is provided with a detent 21 for receiving the bail 18 for supporting the flexible screen in picture exhibiting position when the extension rod 19 is raised, and with a locking member 22 engaging one of the end-caps 16 of the screen case 15 when the extension rod 19 is moved to a lowered position for locking the screen case in its vertical position for transportation and storage purposes. The extension rod 19 extends upwardly from the supporting post 11 through a cap 23 suitably secured in place on the supporting post. Below the cap 23 there is provided a double-acting nipping lever 24 which is urged into gripping relation with the extension rod 19 by a spring 25, as shown more clearly in FIGURES 5 and 6. The nipping lever 24 abuts and pivots in an opening in the supporting post to prevent downward movement of the extension rod 19 and it abuts and pivots about a projection as in the supporting post to prevent upward movement of the extension rod 19. When, however, the nipping lever 24 is manually manipulated against the action of the spring 25, the extension rod 19 is released and may be moved upwardly and downwardly.

An upper bracket 3th is fixedly secured to the supporting post 11 and a plurality of legs 32 are pivotally connected thereto by means of pins 33. The lower ends of the legs 32 are adapted to rest upon the floor 37 for supporting the supporting post and, hence, the projection screen in vertical position when the legs 32 are in their extended position. Another bracket 31 is also rigidly secured to the bottom of the supporting post 11 and one end of a plurality of links 34 are pivotally connected to the bracket 31 by pins 35 while the other ends of the links 34 are pivotally connected to the legs 32 by pin and slot connections including pins 36 and slots 6t) in the legs 32 (FiGS. 5 and 6). Thus, the legs 32 and the links 34 in conjunction with the brackets 31 and 31 form a collapsible stand for the projection screen. The legs 32 may be swung to a collapsed position as illustrated in FIG. 1 and to an extended position as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The legs normally assume the extended position.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plunger 61, having an upper head 62 and a lower head 63, is slidably mounted in the supporting post 11. One end of the connecting links 64 are pivotally connected by pins 65 to the plunger head 63 and the other ends of the connecting links 64 are pivotally connected to the leg links 34 by pins 66. A relatively weak spring 6'7 engaging the head 62 normally biases the plunger 61 upwardly toward the extension rod 19. A relatively strong spring 63 is interposed between the head 52 of the plunger 51 and a head 69 on the lower end of the extension rod 19.

When the extension rod 19 is moved from its lowered position to unlock the screen case 15, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the relatively strong spring 68 becomes inactive and the relatively weak spring pushes upwardly on the plunger 61 to cause the connecting links 64 to swing the leg links 34 outwardly for automatically moving the legs 32 to their extended position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. Thus, the portable projection screen is made ready for picture exhibiting purposes. When the extension rod 19 is moved downwardly to its lowered position to lock the screen case in its vertical position, the relatively strong spring 68 is stressed to resiliently bias the plunger 61 downwardly. Since the projection screen is resting on the floor 37, the legs 32 remain in their extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 3. When, however, the projection screen is lifted from the floor, the stressed relatively strong spring 68 overcomes the force of the relatively weak spring 67 to resiliently move the plunger 61 downwardly. Downward movement of the plunger 61 pulls the connecting links downwardly and, hence, the leg links 3%, such movement being permitted by the pins 36 riding in the slots (iii. In this way, the legs 32 are automatically moved to their collapsed position, as illustrated in FlGS. 1 and 5 and they remain in this collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes. When the nipping lever 24 is thereafter manipulated, the extension rod 19 is released and the spring 6S forces the same upwardly to release the screen case 15, and in so doing the spring is rendered inactive and the spring 67 then operates to move the legs 32 automatically to their extended position.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a portable projection screen having a vertical hollow supporting post, an elongated screen case having a roller mounted flexible screen therein and pivotally mounted on the supporting post for swinging movement between a vertical position for transportation and storage purposes and a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes, an extension rod slidably mounted in the sup porting post and movable between a raised position for picture exhibiting purposes and a lowered position for locking the screen case in its vertical position, a pair of brackets carried by the supporting post, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to one of the brackets, and a plurality of links pivotally connected to the other of the brackets and to the legs, said legs being swingable between a normally extended position for engaging the floor and supporting the supporting post in its vertical position for picture exhibiting purposes and a collapsed position form transportation and storage purposes, the improvement comprising a plunger slidably mounted in the su porting post, a plurality of connecting links pivotally connected to the plunger and the plurality of leg links, means for urging the legs to their normally extended position, and a spring in the supporting post between the plunger and extension rod which is inactive when the extension rod is raised from its lowered position to allow extension of the legs to their normally extended position and which is stressed by the extension rod when the extension rod is moved to its lowered position to lock the screen case in its vertical position to cause the plunger to resiliently urge the connecting links and resiliently bias the normally extended legs to their collapsed position for causing automatic collapsing of the legs when lifted from the floor and for maintaining the legs in their collapsed position until the extension rod is raised from its lowered position.

2. In a portable projection screen having a vertical hollow supporting post, an elongated screen case having a roller mounted flexible screen therein and pivotally mounted on the supporting post for swinging movement between a vertical position for transportation and storage purposes and a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes, an extension rod slidably mounted in the sup porting post and movable between a raised position for picture exhibiting purposes and a lowered position for locking the screen case in its vertical position, a pair of brackets carried by the supporting post, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to one of the brackets, and a plurality of links pivotally connected to the other of the brackets and to the legs, said legs being swingable between a normally extended position for engaging the floor and supporting the supporting post in its vertical position for picture exhibiting purposes and a collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes, the improvement comprising a plunger slidably mounted in the supporting post, a plurality of connecting links pivotally connected to the plunger and the plurality of leg links, a relatively weak spring in the supporting post normally urging the plunger toward the extension rod, and a relatively strong spring in the supporting post between the plunger and extension rod which is inactive when the extension rod is raised from its lowered position to allow extension of the legs to their normally extended position and which is stressed by the extension rod when the extension rod is moved to its lowered position to lock the screen case in its vertical position to overcome the relatively weak spring and cause the plunger to resiliently urge the connecting links and resiliently bias the normally extended legs to their collapsed position for causing automatic collapsing of the legs when lifted from the floor and for maintaining the legs in their collapsed posit-ion until the extension rod is raised from its lowered position.

3. In a portable projection screen having a vertical hollow supporting post, an elongated screen case having a roller mounted flexible screen therein and pivotally mounted on the supporting post for swinging movement between a vertical position for transportation and storage purposes and a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes, an extension rod slidably mounted in the supporting post and movable between a raised position for picture exhibiting purposes and a lowered position for locking the screen case in its vertical position, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets fixedly secured to the supporting post, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to one of the brackets, a plurality of links pivotally connected at one end to the other bracket, pin and slot connections pivotally and slidably connecting the other ends of the links to the legs, said legs being swingable between a normally extended position for engaging the floor and supporting the supporting post in its vertical position for picture exhibiting purposes and a collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes, a plunger slidably mounted in the supporting post, a, plurality of connecting links pivotally connected to the plunger and the plurality of leg links, means for urging the legs to their normally extended position, and a spring in the supporting post between the plunger and extension rod which is inactive when the extension rod is raised from its a lowered position to allow extension of the legs to their normally extended position and which is stressed by the extension rod when the extension rod is moved to its lowered position to lock the screen case in its vertical position to cause the plunger to resiliently urge the connecting links and resiliently bias the normally extended legs to their collapsed position for causing automatic collapsing of the legs when lifted from the floor and for maintaining the legs in their collapsed position until the extension rod is raised from its lowered position.

4. In a portable projection screen having a vertical hollow supporting post, an elongated screen case having a roller mounted flexible screen therein and pivotally mounted on the supporting post for swinging movement between a vertical position for transportation and storage purposes and a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes, an extension rod slidably mounted in the supporting post and movable between a raised position for picture exhibiting purposes and a lowered position for locking the screen case in its vertical position, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets fixedly secured to the supporting bracket, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to one of the brackets, a plurality of links pivotally connected at one end to the other bracket, pin and slot connections pivotally and slidably connecting the other ends of the links to the legs, said legs being swingable between a normally extended position for engaging the floor and supporting the supporting post in its vertical position for picture exhibiting purposes and a collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes, a plunger slidably mounted in the supporting post, a plurality of con necting links pivotally connected to the plunger and the plurality of leg links, a relatively weak spring in the supporting post normally urging the plunger toward the extension rod, and a relatively strong spring in the supporting post between the plunger and extension rod which is inactive when the extension rod is raised from its lowered position to allow extension of the legs to their normally extended position and which is stressed by the extension rod when the extension rod is moved to its lowered position to lock the screen case in its vertical position to overcome the relatively weak spring and cause the plunger to resiliently urge the connecting links and resiliently bias the normally extended legs to their collapsed position for causing automatic collapsing of the legs when lifted from the floor and for maintaining the legs in their collapsed position until the extension rod is raised from its lowered position.

5. In a portable projection screen having a vertical hollow supporting post, an elongated screen case having a roller mounted flexible screen therein and pivotally mounted on the supporting post for swinging movement between a vertical position for transportation and storage purposes and a horizontal position for picture exhibiting purposes, an extension rod slidably mounted in the supporting post and movable between a raised position for picture exhibiting purposes and a lowered position for locking the screen case in its vertical position, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets fixedly secured to the supporting post, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to one of the brackets, a plurality of links pivotally connected at one end to the other bracket, pin and slot connections pivotally and slidably connecting the other ends of the links to the legs, said legs being swingable between a normally extended position for engaging the floor and supporting the supporting post in its vertical position for picture exhibiting purposes, means for urging the legs to their normally extended position, and a collapsed position for transportation and storage purposes and means including spring means which are associated with a plurality of links and the extension rod, which are inactive when the extension rod is raised from its lowered position to allow extension of the legs to their normally extended position and which are stressed by the extension rod when the extension rod is moved to its lowered position to lock the screen case in its vertical position for resiliently biasing the normally extended legs to their collapsed position for causing automatic collapsing of the legs when lifted from the floor and for maintaining the legs in their collapsed position until the extension rod is raised from its lowered position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,287,365 12/18 Livingston 248169 2,750,141 6/56 Tobias 248--171 2,964,106 12/60 Nicholas -24 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PORTABLE PROJECTION SCREEN HAIVNG A VERTICAL HOLLOW SUPPORTING POST, AN ELONGATED SCREEN CASE HAVING A ROLLER MOUNTED FLEXIBLE SCREEN THEREIN AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORTING POST FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A VERTICAL POSITION FOR TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE PURPOSES AND A HORIZONTAL POSITION FOR PICTURE EXHIBITING PURPOSES, AN EXTENSION ROD SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE SUPPROTING POST AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A RAISED POSITION FOR PICTURE EXHIBITING PURPOSES AND A LOWEREC POSITION FOR LOCKING THE SCREEN CASE IN ITS VERTICAL POSITION, A PAIR OF BRACKETS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORTING POST, A PLURALITY OF LEGS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE BRACKETS, AND A PLURALITY OF LINKS PIVOTALLY CONECTED TO THE OTHER OF THE BRACKETS AND LEGS, SAID LEGS BEING SWINGABLE BETWEEN A NORMALLY EXTENDED POSITION FOR ENGAGING THE FLOOR AND SUPPORTING THE SUPPORTING POST IN ITS VERTICAL POSITION FOR PICTURE EXHIBITING PURPOSES AND A COLLAPSED POSITION FORM TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE PURPOSES, THE IMPRIVEMENT COMPRISING A PLUNGER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE SUPPORTING POST, A PLURALITY OF CONNECTING LINKS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE PLUNGER AND THE PLURALITY OF LEGS LINKS, MEANS FOR URGING THE LEGS TO THEIR NORMALLY EXTENDED POSI- 